St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-05-30
NELLIE'S DILEMMA.
How Woman Was Won by the
Man She Deserted.

HlOSU relndrkdDle feature OF BaySlue
that summer was the presence of Nellie
Martin.
Her two admirers were Jack Loutrel
and Murray Nesbitt.
Jack and Murray CALAMITY maintained
an outward semblanee of good will
through all their doubtful rivalry; but
who shall blame Jack if he experienced
q keen sensation of triumph at finding
Nellie Martin actually in his boat one
splendid July morning?
There's that misunderstanding little
island, at the mouth of the cove" said
Nellie. "Did you ever go ashore there?"
"Yes. It's dry now, at low water, but
the waves go clear over it when the
tides up. Shall we land and take pos
session, and make believe there's a
chance OF finding something's"
II don't care" said Nellie, and in a
costly on the low ledge in the centre,
and Jack was silent as he looked dream
lily out to sea.
When he turned again at Nellie he
had look that almost frightened her,
and she wished herself in the boat again.
"What is the matter, Jack?' she
asked, with an attempt at banter. ''Are
YOU.
flush, Nellie; don't laugh at me Just
now" interrupted Jack, in voice that
was deep even for him, but very low
and sweet; 1--we something l want to
say to YOU"
And so he had, and he said it all be-
fore Nellie could muster courage to stop
him.. When her eloquent companion
pleaded for an immediate answer she
sprang to her feet with laugh that ex-
pressed world of wilful meaning.
"DO you mean to mock me, Nellie
Martin? Do you not knOw-can you
not feel that l am in earnest? 1t is a
matter of life and death with me-
Answer me!-oh, Nellie!"
Jack LOutrel, will you have the good
ness to pull me ashore, or shall l take
the boat and go alone?'
Il want to be your oarsman for life,
Nellie, but not just now"
Nellie was already standing by the
boat, as it rocked gently at the edge of
the little islet
''ShalI wait for you?" she said, and
there was half a tremor in her voice.
Jack Loutrel could not have spoken
at that moment to save his life, and he
sank down with his back toward the
boat. A moment more Nellie waited
She would have given something for an
answer: but none came, and her proud
will carried her into the boat and seated
her at the oars. She pulled very slowly.
and it was half mile to the beach in
front of the Bayside hotel, but a curve
in the land at last hid the rock from her
sight, without her constant gaze discern
ing the slightest change of posture in the
figure she had left sitting on the ledge.
1t was tremendous experience for
Nellie, although unlike any she had
ever had before; and it may have been
the tumult and excitement of her feel
ings, even more than carelessness, that
led her to accept so eagerly the offer of
drive with Murray NeSbitt, which
waited for her acceptance as she stepped
OH shore.
Meanwhile Jack Loutrel had re-
manned, in almost sullen fiXedneSs of
musing, for long time; he had risked
much on one cast and he had failed to
win.
"Hullo," he exclaimed, ''the tide COM
ing in? OF course it is; and what am
to do now Nellie has carried off the
bOat?".
Jack Loutrel was a man of action. and
his outer clothing was quickly enough
rolled in neat, compact bundle and
fastened at the back of his neck. Then
he dashed gallantly into the fast rough
enIng water, and in due time, though
pale and dripping and exhausted, he
dragged himself out on dry land.
mat had been an eventful morning
for Nellie Martin. 1t was long drive
that Murray Nesbitt had planned for
her, not without purpose of his own.
How could he have given up so good and
so hopeful an opportunity? AT all events
he did not, and Nellie heard him to the
end in such half-humble quietude that
Murray'S heart thrObbed quick.an fast
a Or Of trim =
They were not driving very fast lust
then, but were coming out upon the sea-
ward slope of 1.-The View" Nellie's
face had been half-averted, and there
was dreamy look in her eyes that her
companion did not see. Suddenly she
exclaimed, with sort of half-electrie
start:
where is the rock? Why, it is moth
ing but foam; and how the wind is
sbiowing!1
Murray Nesbitt looked. with puzzled
ama1ement, in the direction in which
Nellie pointed.
ooh, that rock, he saiu coolly. ''Why,
that's nothing. The water has been
over it this half-hour."
''Home! home! Drive back to the
hotel instantly" gasped Nellie. "Oh,
II anything has happened to him! |
left him on the rock without boat.n
1t was short drive, long as it seemed
to Nellie'S conScience-Stricken haste:
and she ran breathleSs from the carriage
to the beach. Careful hands had hauled
the boats up high and dry, for the waves
were chasing one another i'll rough
and tumble that was momentarily be-
coming more boiSterouS. NoOne seemed
at hand to help, and Nellie's own fair
hands were quickly Juggling vainly at
on of no fr1x -Irrr ,4.N.I
"Wait moment, miss" shouted be-
hind her the rough voice of the boat
keeper. "Why, yer into the water yer
self. You don't want to row out in all
that sea?''
''Oh! but we must save him. 1 left
him on the rockr'
Murray Nesbitt by this time compre-
hended the situation and insisted on do
ing his uttermOst to get boats into the
water, to row all over the cove in search
of his unfortunate rival, while poor
Nellie, after few moments, turned
back toward the hotel without word of
explanation. On she walked like one
i'll dream; but at the further end to-
ments that chung forlornly close to their
wearer, passed stitfiy by her, as if it had
been one who knew her not
''Oh, Jack !eXclaimed Nellie, and she
grasped him hard by the arm as she
spoke. 'Jack Loutrel, is it you?''
Jack had turned upon her a pale, re-
proachful, almost a stormy face; but
Nellie's blue eyes were streaming with
tears, and her lips, that had been so
willful, were quivering as they never
had before.
''Oh, Jack! if you had not come ashore
| should have diedr'
''Nellie!-Nellie Martini"
Eyes, Jack; found it out all at once,
when | saw there was nobody on the
rock. And, then-oh! Please forgive
me, dear Jackr'
Alas for Murray Nesbitt! The glory
of his new team has departed. for Jack